Replacement fly-half Ihaia West slotted a penalty to stretch the Blues’ lead to 15-10, and the Lions’ hard-forced penalty from a lineout maul was reversed when Liam Williams took out Matt Duffie in the air.

Williams took out Duffie again just moments later, in another miserable misread, and paid the price for the double offence with a justified yellow card.

Finally the Lions built some phase play - and forced quick dividend with Halfpenny slotting his second penalty of the night when Augustine Pulu was pinged for not rolling away.

The Lions admirably negotiated their 10 minutes with 14 men, with Williams returning without the tourists conceding.

Rory Best replaced Ken Owens and took the captaincy, and immediately the Lions bulldozed the Blues scrum for a penalty.

Halfpenny posted the 40-metre goal to edge the Lions into a 16-15 lead.

But just when the Lions thought they could wrestle control, up popped Sonny Bill Williams with a devastating assist.

Luatua’s offload set blockbusting centre Williams through the gap, and West’s majestic line bamboozled the splintered Lions defence.

Liam Williams raced out to make the hit on Sonny Bill, only for the totemic midfielder to send West careering home.

The Lions forced a late penalty and punted to the corner, but lost the lineout in shambolic fashion - gifting the game to their hosts.

Much improved from the woeful tour-opening 13-7 win over the Provincial Barbarians - but this defeat remains a massive missed opportunity for Gatland’s Lions.